The path to visibility in container shipping

世界各地的货主在集装箱运输服务方面也面临着类似的问题. Multi-modal transport chains often appear as “black boxes”, 集装箱在到达供应链的某些点之前会从视线中消失. 这些问题由于不准确的估计到达时间(ETA)数据而更加复杂, especially when ETAs change and cargo owners are not proactively notified.

不同IT解决方案之间缺乏互操作性，在端到端容器过程中产生了巨大的“盲点”，没有专有解决方案可能解决. This puts cargo owners at a competitive disadvantage. Without visibility into where inventory is at any given time, 货主不能有效地满足市场需求，也没有足够的设备来管理中断或不可预见的变化.

Achieving end-to-end, real-time visibility into multi-modal supply chains requires a unified, futureproof approach to the exchange of data. Digital standards such as those developed by Digital Container Shipping Association (永利皇宫app下载注册) 其运营商合作伙伴的设计目的是对齐数据定义并推动技术解决方案的互操作性. 这将使供应链参与者能够以统一的方式在不同的系统上交换数据.

Rethinking EDI

几十年来，EDI一直是集装箱运输涉众之间交换消息的主要方法. It was designed to eliminate much of the human error that occurs with manual, paper-based processes, and it does so quite effectively. But like many 40-year-old technologies, EDI在满足现代客户对可见性的需求方面有一些缺点.

EDI的局限性源于这样一个事实，即它是为一种类型的消息从一台机器到另一台机器的单向通信而设计的. 每个EDI连接都必须集成到发送和接收机器的后端系统中. 货物所有者需要与他们工作的每个承运人进行多个EDI连接，以通信所涉及的所有消息, for example, a booking request. And if any of the data in any of the messages changes on either end, or a new type of data is needed, the EDI connection has to be reconfigured, or a new one has to be created.

As a result, 由于需要大量的1:1 EDI连接来连接多个参与方，EDI的维护是极其劳动密集型和昂贵的. But even if you have the money to spend, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find people who can do the job. 技术在进步，技术人员正在接受现代技术的培训. 对于那些需要在保持可持续劳动力的同时进行创新的公司来说，EDI是一个死胡同.

APIs—real-time interactions, lower costs

应用程序接口(API)是可互操作数字通信的现代标准. 它是一组编程指令和数据交换标准，允许不同的基于web的系统实时地相互通信. APIs can handle billions of interactions every day. With new technologies like smart container tracking devices, real-time data exchange volumes will grow exponentially, necessitating a shift to API technology.

The value of API technology is well recognized in business, 它已经成为许多数字化先进产业数字化转型的关键, such as banking and ecommerce. Think about when you use your credit card to purchase something online. 完成交易所需的数据通过api在web上进行交换和验证. 许多标准组织都将api作为一种改进信息共享和互操作性的方法. For example, 联合国/CEFACT已发起努力，确保web api的扩散，以支持国际贸易和运输过程.

The 2-way, api支持的实时数据交换是提高集装箱运输过程和事件的可见性所需要的. Think about the benefits for exception handling in particular. 使用EDI，托运人必须等待承运人通知他们约定的事件. But with APIs, 托运人可以查询承运人的系统或订阅自动接收任何相关事件的状态更新. If there are delays or other types of exceptions, 托运人可以在它们发生时了解它们，并立即工作解决它们.

永利皇宫app下载注册 digital standards – driving real-time visibility in container shipping

永利皇宫app下载注册的目的是建立数字标准，以实现跨端到端供应链的技术解决方案的互操作性. 这将为整个行业的数字化奠定基础，就像你在银行业看到的那样, telco and the airlines. By working towards the widespread adoption of standards, 永利皇宫app下载注册的目标是在可视性和实时响应方面显著提升行业水平.

With 9 of the top 10 carriers as members, 永利皇宫app下载注册处于与广泛的行业利益相关者合作的独特位置, including regulatory bodies and other standards organizations, to drive alignment at every connection point using APIs. 这将在全球供应链上创建一个互操作性的生态系统，使托运人不仅能与承运商实时连接, but with freight forwarders, terminals, ports, regulators, banks, customs officials, etc. 与基于edi的系统相比，所有这些连接的技术集成点要少得多，需要的维护也少得多.

To date, 永利皇宫app下载注册已经发布了集装箱航运业一些最紧迫和最具影响力的方面的标准，包括轨道 & Trace, Internet of Things (IoT) and soon, electronic bill of lading (eBL) (as the first step towards eDocumentation). 而这些标准将使行业更接近互操作性，即使是在EDI中实现, 永利皇宫app下载注册发布开放API定义和设计原则，以加快向API仲裁通信的转变. 基于api的数字标准的广泛采用将使托运人和其他行业利益相关者能够接收到他们需要的实时数据，从而在集装箱运输过程中做出更好的商业决策.